Have you ever skipped over a vendor booth because you felt as though you were going to get a long sales pitch?

I have been to horse events all over the United States, including Quarter Horse Congress, and have had that feeling more than once. There are some companies that make me feel warm and fuzzy and others that make me want to run, fast, in the other direction.

I would like to offer you some tips and tools to help you:

Draw in the right person to your booth

Capture their information and

How to follow up to ensure they feel nurtured

When you prepare for a horse event as a vendor, you need to focus on what your ideal customer likes. Take into account what they think about and why they want or need your product. Shiny brochures and banners do nothing if they do not meet a specific need.

A good friend of mine, Chris Stock, who is a world renown sales trainer, shared this with me recently:

“Customers are not really interested in your product or service. What they are interested in is what your product or service can do FOR them and their business”.

This may not be the most popular thought; HOWEVER, it is 110% correct. Not everyone that walks by your booth is your customer. If you can learn how to connect and draw in the right people, your ideal customers, you will have a successful event and a booth that will keep people coming back.

Are you headed to Quarter Horse Congress? Once you get someone that comes to your booth, how can you capture their information quickly?

You can do something as simple as a giveaway and have them enter by having them share their name and email address on slips of paper or throwing a business card in a fish bowl.
You can also use tools that allow a person to text to enter. For example, Constant Contact allows you to set up an email list and people can send a text to enter that list. That cuts down on time, it allows people to quickly utilize their phone, and most importantly you do not have any data entry to do when you get back to your office!

You could have an online contest/giveaway and hand out cards on how to enter. For example, you could have a Facebook giveaway and provide the information on a card for people to take with them and enter at their convenience.

Although, capturing information is critical for a business, it is FAR MORE IMPORTANT to make a connection and a great first impression.

A book that I absolutely find incredible value in is, The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk. This book gives hundreds of examples on how to connect on a smart and social level to ensure your potential customers are made to feel important and valuable throughout your sales process. It is one of my top 5 favorite marketing books and I highly recommend it!

Now you are done with your event, headed home and it is your job to ensure you STAY CONNECTED to these new potential customers. Email marketing and snail mail are, in my opinion, the two most effective ways to communicate.

When I mention snail mail, I am not talking about a company sales brochure or packet. I am referring to a hand-written card. Now I know if you get hundreds of leads this may be near impossible, so I wanted to share a tool that I have used for over 8 years. Send Out Cards is an online platform you can use as a customer relations manager and send physical cards, and gifts if you’d like, for half of the cost of a Hallmark card. This system allows you to set up a card campaign once and send it to multiple people, and the bonus is it is all personalized and saves you TONS of time! Feel free to try it free as my gift to you: www.sendoutcards.com/yellowbarnmedia.

I highly recommend sending a minimum of one email per month and you can get away with sending up to 4 during the holiday season as well. I use Constant Contact and MailChimp as my top two email providers. If you are unsure of the best way to create content and set up those campaigns, shoot me an email and I can help: jamie@yellowbarnmedia.com.

[quick technology tip] What if you could have your marketing message go out to phones within 300 feet of your booth to remind people to stop by?

I recently started using this new little piece of technology magic! It is affordable and has had a big impact on my business. A friend of mine took his to a concert and got 90 clicks and sold three products while attending a concert. Learn more here.

I hope these tips help you have as you move into the fall expo season. I am happy to help in any way I can. Please do not hesitate to call, text or email me.

Business and making money all boils down to one thing: relationships. Anyone can make a quick buck, but those that develop a solid relationship with their customers will be successful for many years to come.

So, here is one way to create opportunities for yourself, foster friendships and give a massive value added to your audience.

Facebook groups are the new black of social media and online marketing. Many of you have a Facebook Page, and if you do not, you really should (like yesterday). Facebook page organic engagement/reach is, on average, less than 1%.

Unlike a Facebook Page, a group is a place for you to invite a select group of people, and the group can be set as Closed or Secret. A Closed group is searchable in the Facebook search bar, and anyone that wants to join would need to request permission. A secret group is not searchable so unless you personally invite people they will not be able to see the group.

You could look at this option as just one more place to suck your time; however, if you really think about it and look at how your business is structured, it can really grow your business and add to your bottom line.

So, you might be saying, “ok Jamie this sounds great, but how do I get started and what is my goal?”. In order to start a group, here are the necessary steps:

Login into Facebook and click the home button (top right, next to your name)

You will see a long menu list on the left-hand side of the screen – scroll all the way to the bottom.

Under create, click on Groups.

From there just follow the prompts. You will need to name your group, add at least one person to get the group started and then select what type of group (closed or secret).

Facebook groups allow you to teach, train, share and mentor, as well as, share information. Groups can be used for anything from non-profit, community groups, businesses and much more.

For example, if you are a trainer and you have 20 students you give lessons to, a Facebook group would give your students just one more way to access you. If you are an awesome business owner, you will always be striving to find ways to give value added wherever you can. A Facebook group would allow you to share extra tips in between lessons, connect riders that maybe don’t see each other that often at the barn, share training videos, use the Facebook Live option to go live for 30 minutes a week to answer questions and much more. The sky is the limit with the many ways you can connect with your audience at a much higher level than a Facebook Page.

Another example is let’s say you are a clinician and you sell memberships, videos or monthly training options, you could add a Facebook group to give your audience that direct link to you. It makes them feel important and valued. It gives them a platform where they can build a relationship with you.

No matter what you sell, a service or product, you can utilize a Facebook group to have that direct connect with your audience. Take your business and your customer service to the next level today with a Facebook Group.

In the world of equestrians, everyone either has a sponsor or wants a sponsor.

When you think of a ‘Sponsor,’ what comes to mind? Is it free product? It is a financial donation? Is it a tax write off? Is it all of these things?

Sponsorship comes in a few different forms:

An in-kind sponsor is a sponsor who donates a product in exchange for something, typically advertisement. Most of these sponsors will receive an ad in a program, on a banner, or on social media or a website in exchange for their donation. Often times, the more products a sponsor provides, the more benefits they receive from the sponsored rider, organization, horse show, etc.

A financial sponsor is a sponsor who donates money in exchange for particular benefits like advertisement or opportunity. Like an in-kind sponsor, most will receive an ad in a program, on a banner, or on social media or a website in exchange for the donation. In the case of a special event or horse show, a financial sponsor would be provided with premium seating, free drinks, or access to a VIP area, for example.

When I talk about sponsorships, I like to emphasize that sponsorships area a two way street. For example: yes, you may be receiving a $500 pair of designer boots at no cost, however, you still need to earn them by upholding your end of the agreement.

In most sponsorship relationships, there is a written contract between the “sponsor” and the “sponsored” that breaks down what each will provide in exchange for services. For riders, this may be a monthly or quarterly requirement to promote the sponsor on social media and/or wearing the sponsor’s logo at a competition. For horse shows, this might mean a banner at a specific location, a website ad, and a VIP bracelet. No matter the agreement, it is very important to make SURE you are fulfilling these requirements.

If you are a sponsored rider or hope to be one someday, here are my top tips for a successful sponsorship.

Schedule your agreement requirements. I highly recommend writing your requirements on a calendar dedicated to sponsorship management. This helps you stay organized and reminds you to complete certain tasks on time, which help keep your sponsor happy.

Share important dates with your sponsor. When you create your upcoming events schedule, send it to your sponsor! Let them know where you will be and when. You can also share it on social media and tag them in the post for them to share, too.

Provide your sponsor with photos. Sponsors love seeing pictures of you wearing their logo, feeding their supplement, using their product, etc. And, if you are required to submit high-resolution photos to your sponsor as part of your agreement, please make sure you do so, even if that means purchasing them from a show photographer.

Thank your sponsor regularly. Call me old fashioned, but nothing takes the place of a handwritten thank you note. Thank them often—especially after you receive new product.

Communicate with your sponsor. If you want to make the most of your sponsorship, talk with your sponsor regularly. They love product feedback and enjoy hearing updates on how you and your horse are doing. They especially love it if you tell them these things and then post a review on social media!

Thank you to Chelsea Smith of Smith Equine Media for contributing this helpful blog post.

At the age of 18, Chelsea followed her love of horses from Western Kentucky to the Horse Capital of the World. Once in Lexington, Ky., she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Science & Management from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Business Administration degree from Midway University.

Chelsea’s extensive network in the equine industry started with positions at notable equine organizations including the University of Kentucky’s Ag Equine Program, the Kentucky Horse Park, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Dressage Federation and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. In addition to running her own business, Chelsea also serves as Webmaster and Membership Chair of the MidSouth Eventing & Dressage Association.

Chelsea and her husband reside just minutes from The Kentucky Horse Park at a small farm in Paris, KY. An avid equestrian, Chelsea competes her two off-the-track-Thoroughbreds in eventing.

Effective business tools are essential to ensure your business is growing. Having a solid understanding of how to use those tools makes you more confident and increases the chances that you will use them consistently.

Here is a quick, step by step tutorial, with pictures (can you say YEAH?), to help you better understand how to use this awesome app. Before starting this tutorial, make sure you have already downloaded the repost app on your phone.

Find the photo you want to repost. I used a post from one of my favorite horse brands – Benefab Products.

Click the three dots in the upper right hand side of the photo

Tap on “Copy Share URL” – After you do that you will see a green bar at the top that will confirm your link has been copied to the clipboard

Open the Repost app

Once you open it you should see your post at the top. It should also confirm with text that says, “got share url”.

Select that post.

You will then see options for color and placement of account holder’s name where you shared it from. Feel free to play around with this to ensure it esthetically looks the best.

Once you have selected the layout and color you like, click REPOST. After you click on repost, the app will show you a short video on how to paste the original content on your post.

Then select ” Copy to Instagram” and it will automatically open your Instagram app

This is where you can select your filter and add your comments. When sharing I do not change the filter just so the original picture stays the same.

You can then add your own comments along with using the paste option to showcase their caption of the photo as well. Once you have the caption just the way you want it, click OK and then share just like you normally would on an Instagram post.

Gone are the days of having to hire a videographer to get your message to your target audience.

Facebook has created a live video streaming option called FACEBOOK LIVE. You can now talk in real time with your Facebook fans. Building your brand, inspiring your audience, and showcasing your skill set has never been easier. The learning curve with Facebook Live is short, I promise. I will show you how to use Facebook Live in this blog post.

THE CON

The one thing I hear very often is that a person is shy and they don’t know what to say or they are afraid they will “mess up”. Marketing a business is about creating a bond with your community, and there is no better way to do that then to talk with them and educate them on what you do.

This is the part where I tell you to push past the fear and do it because it will grow your business. What is the worst that can happen? We are all human. We may stutter from time or time or pause when we are chatting. It’s ok. Let’s go with Nike’s advice and JUST DO IT!

{Let me be honest, I have a large community on my Facebook Page, and the first few times I went live I did not have anyone show up. The first few times are great practice and worst case, you delete the video. Best case scenario, you totally rock it and can reference the video in your other marketing efforts!}

So, now that you are on board and have the mindset that you are going to do it, where do you start?

THE PRO

People spend 3x longer watching video which is Live compared to video which is no longer live.

Video posts have 135% greater organic reach than photo posts.

If these two facts are not enough to convince you, check out this infographic created by Bold Content Video.

OK, it’s time to show you how to use Facebook Live!

Step#1 – Open Your Facebook Business Page

Step#2 – Click on PUBLISH just like if you were going to write a new post or share a photo.

Step#3 – Click on LIVE VIDEO. Give Facebook access to your camera and microphone when prompted. After the first time, you will no longer receive that prompt.

Step#4 – Give your video a catchy title, one that tells what you will be talking about in the video. Also on this screen, you have the option to choose the privacy level of your video. If you are just starting out, you can choose “Only me” to get your feet wet; however, if you are using this for business you want to keep this set as public to get the most exposure.

Step#5 – Once you have everything set to go, just click GO LIVE. It will give you a 3-2-1 countdown until it starts recording and then JUST DO IT!

You can broadcast for just a few minutes, but no longer than 90 minutes. You can effectively communicate information about your service or product, introduce people to you and your business on a more personal level and do something that many in your industry may not be doing – streaming live video!

The more you do it, the easier it will become, I promise.

You can broadcast for just a few minutes, but no longer than 90 minutes. You can effectively communicate information about your service or product, introduce people to you and your business on a more personal level and do something that many in your industry may not be doing – streaming live video!

The more you do it, the easier it will become, I promise. In order to encourage participation in my live videos, I typically post something about 30 minutes prior to recording to let people know I will be going live.

As you record, you will see when people join the live session. You can say hello to them, answer any questions they have and really find out what they need from you. Then you just click finish when you are done with the broadcast and it will save to your Facebook Page.

Facebook will ask you if you would like to save your video to the camera roll and I always select yes so I can repurpose the video if and when I choose. You can always go back to the post on your Timeline or Page and edit the description, change the privacy settings, or delete the video, just like you would any other post.

I promised it was easy didn’t I? I would love to hear about your Facebook Live experiences, so feel free to share them on our Facebook Page once you have completed your first video!

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Would you like to know one of the biggest complaints I get from clients that are using Facebook?

They are finding it hard to connect, engage and get in front of their target audience. Many of you may have noticed the new layout for Facebook Business Pages, and with that came this new feature: Preferred Page Audience. You can now set up your page to have a higher probability of being seen by your target audience.

Here’s How……

It is very simple and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Please keep in mind that your ideal customers are those that are similar to you the majority of the time. I know that is not always the case, but for the majority of my clients, that fact rings true. Think of the things you like on Facebook, your interests, your hobbies, your favorite people and even your favorite TV shows or movies. For many entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners, we experience true joy when working with people that we have things in common with. Just keep this in mind as you move through this process.

Below I have screenshots to walk you through how to set this up on your Facebook Business Page.

STEP #1: On your Facebook Business Page, click SETTINGS in the top right corner.

STEP #2: On the left side, click on Preferred Page Audience

STEP #3: Click the EDIT option

STEP #4: This is where you will choose your target demographic. Make sure to fill in each of the options: Location, Age, Gender & Interests.

It is incredibly simple; however, if you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to help you make sure you have this all set up correctly. Also, feel free to share this with other business owners you believe can benefit from this information.

Interested in having custom content created for your business? LEARN MORE HERE

One of the number one challenges I hear from business owners trying to marketing their business using Facebook is time. Many business owners, just like you, are busy during the day working their business and may not be at a computer.

The one thing I can guarantee you is that your phone is attached to you or at least within reach. You know it’s true!

We were incredibly excited when Facebook allowed us the option to schedule posts on our mobile devices {can I get a WHOOP?!}.

So, now is the time to rock and roll. Grab your phone and start scheduling your posts. Even if our calendars are full of meetings, family responsibilities, and other important tasks, we all have down time. It might just be sitting at the bank, the drive through or while having your morning coffee, but there is time. If it is important to you, you will make time! I encourage you to set aside at least 15-30 minutes at first to just get started with some posts.

After reading this blog you will have a better understanding of how to post from your mobile device. The next reasonable question is how often to post. That is another question that I hear over and over. I do not believe there is a magic number, but I can tell you that once or twice a day is not going to make you an overnight sensation.

OK, so how do you schedule Facebook posts from your mobile device?

I have three screenshots that will show you how simple it is!

We encourage you to share this post with others you believe will find value from learning how to post to Facebook from a mobile device.

When you get into a routine of scheduling your posts with consistency, you will see an increase in your Facebook engagement. An increase in engagement means that you are staying in front of your fans and customers. Staying in front of those customers and fans is so important. They may or may not need your product or service now, but they will eventually so it’s your job to stay connected with them.

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When you think of Prince, what is one thing you think of?

Of course, there is his music, no doubt; however, the color purple is something most people associate with him.

Today, as I was getting my nails done today I grabbed the color purple and thought, “heck, why not?”. The TV was on at the salon and a report came on about Prince and his recent death. As they showed mourners and those celebrating his music there was purple everywhere. I certainly did not plan my nail color, but as I watched the tribute on the TV I realized how Prince was a genius at his creating his brand.

There are certain people that have so creativity branded themselves or their company that it is almost like they were born with their brand.

For Prince, it was purple and music of course. No matter what your age, chances are you are familiar with at least one or two of his songs. My favorite song of his is 1999. To me, that song is just epic and it helps that I remember partying like it was 1999. I remember the W2K fear and that was before I was really plugging into the computer the way I am now. I am also partial to Raspberry Beret and Purple Rain and maybe those were popular songs when I was growing up (and yes that dates me but I still feel like I am 25).

My husband would say my favorite song of his should be, Let’s Go Crazy, but that is a whole different story. I am by no means a die hard Prince fan; however, I can appreciate his musical ingenuity and unique personality. I imagine a few of the songs I mentioned will stay permanently in my iTunes playlist.

What I did not realize is that he wrote hit songs for Sinead O’Connor, Madonna, Cydni Lauper and more. Prince was famous for ghostwriting songs and giving them to artists he respected. He made his mark on a huge industry and will leave an imprint for years to come. He recorded 39 studio albums, 4 live albums, 104 singles and sold over 100 million records worldwide. I think it is safe to say he had passion, he knew his audience, and he made music they would listen to.

As marketers, small business owners and industry professionals it is important that we have passion.

It is also just as important to understand our audience and know how to best speak to them. I just returned from Social Media Marketing World in San Diego where I was super pumped to learn from some of the leaders in my industry. Although branding was not the main topic, many speakers shared on how to create visual content using color to support and increase brand awareness.

I cannot pick my favorite, but what I can say is there were so many of them that understand their audience and have been successful in communicating with them.

Rebekah Radice comes to mind. During her presentation, she shared about her decision to use the color orange for her branding. She had some kickback in the beginning and people telling her that it was a bad choice. She decided to go ahead with it since it was something that fit her and she felt strongly about.

If you look at the description of orange in the above photo and you know anything about Rebekah (online or off), you can automatically see that it was an awesome decision! It reflects who she is in life and business.

I was honored to finally meet her in person after being friends online for some time. Orange is fitting for her and now when I think of orange I think of her. Branding is not just all about colors, although I love the color chart and the picture it portrays. It is about WHO you are. Who are you at the core?

As I mentioned I went to this conference and it was my first year attending. The conference was in San Diego and I wore my cowboy hat. I had some kickback in the beginning when I contemplated keeping the hat or going the mainstream route with my attire. The core of who I am is a horse girl and a country girl. When I wear my cowboy hat and boots, I feel like I can conquer the world…..just being honest.

While at the event I had someone ask me if the hat was “me” or just a tool to stand out. The coolest thing is being able to say it is truly who I am and it does help that I do stand out when I wear it.

From a branding perspective, Prince was a genius.

According to the color wheel, the color purple was right on for him. The world has lost a musical genius that will have a lasting legacy for years to come. No matter what your personal thoughts are about him or his music, take note from a branding perspective. Know yourself. Know your audience. Be passionate about what you do and success will come!

We want to be connected with family, friends, clients and potential customers anyway that we can. We just want to be connected. Through the invention of the internet and Social Media, we had been given the chance to show our emotions on different online platforms. This can be a truly valuable piece of a marketing plan for a business.

Naturally, Social Media outlets are becoming more and more viable for the professional side of life, and that is a good thing. Global interconnectivity means that we can now reach people that are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from you, and all you have to is click with your mouse. As a result, platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram had become tools we simply cannot ignore.

Instagram, in particular, is an interesting (and fun!) platform. It allows business owners to showcase their products, services, and ideas without including too much text. It allows the user to post a photo, add some hashtags and a short description and be on their merry way. Take a moment and follow along as we share these 5 Instagram tips for small business.

Take a moment and follow along as we share these 5 Instagram tips for small business.

#1 – The Hashtag Is Your Friend

Don’t let the word hashtag scare you. Think of a hashtag as a keyword or a search term. If you were to google something you were interested in, you would type in the word and Google would return results. Make a list of words that your audience would search for if they needed your service or product. That list is the start of your hashtag list for Instagram! By using relevant hashtags you make it easy for users to stumble upon your content and potentially become viable customers. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags so grab a pen and start your list now!

#2 – Engage Viewers With a Visual Narrative

Everybody loves a good story, right? Story-telling has been a means of entertainment for years and years, so why not tell your own? Instead of actually telling your story, you should show it. By arranging your images in a compelling and interesting manner, you engage your viewers. Share your ideas, the story of your business or testimonies of satisfied customers. It is also important to tailor your content to your target audience. Pick a story-telling style that you think will appeal to your ideal consumer, and stick to it.

By staying consistent with your story and your posts, you encourage familiarity and trust. The more people get to know, like and trust you, the higher the likelihood of them doing business with you!

#3 – Quality over Quantity

When you use Instagram as a business platform, you will need interesting and engaging photos. In addition to showcasing your service or product, I have found that sharing personal photos from time to time adds value to your audience. Of course, this may vary from industry to industry, but in my experience, I have found that my followers enjoy getting to know me better through these personal photos. When I say personal photos keep in mind it is important to use your brain and enlist the help of good ol’ common sense. Let’s be real here, you are still running a business and you need to think like a professional. If in doubt, please DON’T post it.

#4 – Consistency and Predictability

Something to think about is your posting habit. Posting consistent, exciting content is going to yield a continual growth in your number of followers. If you have a challenging time remembering to post, I recommend scheduling a few in advance to ensure you stay consistent. I will be honest, I have not found a scheduling system that I’m head over heels in love with; however, I can tell you I use OnlyPult. It is affordable and helps me set up a few posts in advance.

By letting people know what to expect with your content, it makes you predictable. It allows consumers to get immersed, without worrying that they’ll miss something important. It enables them to plan ahead and to look forward to your content. In my experience, when you provide positive, consistent content your followers are much more active and they stay connected with your business.

#5 – Interaction is Key

Last, but certainly not the least, don’t forget to engage with those that have taken the time to follow you or comment. Though it may seem tedious (especially once you build a large following), interacting with your followers is a MUST! By doing so, you encourage loyalty. It’s important to be genuine with your interactions. There is no need to forcefully try and connect with your followers. A simple thank you, or short discussion about their interests is enough. Try to find out what is expected of your service and tailor your posts to reflect customer expectation. 100% accuracy is unnecessary. As long as you show your viewers that you’re serious about catering to them, instead of just promoting yourself, you should do just fine.

Let’s Wrap It Up

These 5 Instagram tips for small business are just a few tips regarding building your business on Instagram. As you gain experience, you will develop your own techniques and ideas on how to engage your viewers. Be professional, be unique and be you! Work to find a balance between business and personal, and you will find success.

I debated on the title of this blog post: How I gained 200 followers in a week.

I see so many articles about adding 10,000 fans or followers with some magic trick and honestly I get pretty annoyed. Do you feel the same?

I promise you what I am about to share is not even close to magic. It won’t happen overnight. There is no miracle pill. It is not hard, but it will take work and dedication. Are you with me?

I have been using Twitter since January 2009 and I will admit that I was hesitant at first. I started because I was breaking into the social media game, and I knew I needed to understand it. Honestly, I didn’t like it at first. 140 characters just seemed stupid to me.

Then I happened upon a book called Tao of Twitter by Mark Schaefer. I didn’t realize I would literally fall deeply and madly in love with Twitter with each turn of the page. I have always understood relationships and how important they are in life and business; however, translating relationship building from offline to online can be challenging.

There are so many social networks that I enjoy and find tremendous value in, but I think highlighting how to find success on Twitter is important. It has so much value and the impact it has on an industry is powerful, but so often the feedback I hear is that people are confused and intimidated by it.

So back to this book. I enjoy reading, and I especially enjoy it when the writer relays his or her message in a common sense fashion. You know what I mean, right? Picking up a book that you can’t put down. Now for those of you that are marketing buffs like me you get it. We are kinda nerdy, but that is what makes up so cool (and smart) too! For those of you that dread reading about business related “stuff”, please rest assured this book is an easy read. Also, keep in mind that conquering marketing tasks one by one will empower you and allow you to grow your business. We may already know each other or maybe we are about to be new friends, but either way, know that your business is worth it – YOU are worth it!

So, just how did I gain 200 followers in under a week?

Remember that I mentioned there is no “gain followers quick scheme”, ok? Only continue reading if you want to build relationships and you are willing to engage with people. If you are brand spanking new to Twitter take a moment and review my previous blog post, A Beginner’s Guide To Twitter, before reading on.

Below I will share a few tips on how to consistently gain new followers. I am confident these will help you as you increase your visibility on Twitter.

Consistency is Key.

As with any social media platform, you MUST be consistent. What do I mean exactly?

I am not asking you to throw aside everything else in your business or life, but I am suggesting you make a plan and stick to it. If you work a system, it will work FOR you.

Rebekah Radice shares in her blog post, The Only Social Media Checklist You’ll Ever Need, that 6-9 times per day is a good frequency of content to post on Twitter to get started. For many people, this number might cause a spike in your blood pressure; however, there are tools and ideas to help you so there’s no need to fret.

Use the Right Tools for You

I currently post every 15-30 minutes from 7am to 11pm each day. Because social media is my primary industry, I do post more than other industries. If I had to write all the content for each of these posts AND schedule them, that might take me hundred of hours, right? I am a business owner, a wife and the mom of a toddler, so as you might guess time is very important to me.

I found a tool that has helped me tremendously over the last 3 years. This tool allows me to create content one time, as well as, upload my favorite blogs that showcase people that I respect in my industry. Once I have it all setup, each week I can pull the content I want from all my saved sources, hashtag the posts with the push of one button, mention the people I need to, select my schedule and then upload it to whichever social platform I prefer.

The name of this lifesaver is BundlePost. I cannot say enough for the support I have received from their staff and how attentive they are to their customers. They get 5 stars from me every day and twice on Sunday!

Talk Back

Imagine sitting down for a first date with someone. You are both all dressed up, sitting at a nice restaurant and you start by introducing yourself and asking a question. What if the meal came, you kept asking questions but got no response back. You would most likely not ask for a second date, right?

Please keep in mind that is all a social network is, an online first date so to speak. This seems like one of those tips that you might think is so simple it should not even be listed, but do you know how many people on twitter and other social networks that forget this step?

Yes, of course, I am a marketing buff, but do you know how many business people I talk to about horses, foster care and being a new mom? The answer is a large amount. It is not about ramming sales down people’s throats or your bottom line. It is about connecting, building bridges and being a voice of help and encouragement. Business will come. That, I promise!

Yes, of course, I am a marketing buff, but do you know how many business people I talk to about horses, foster care and being a new mom? The answer is a large amount. It is not about ramming sales down people’s throats or your bottom line. It is about connecting, building bridges and being a voice of help and encouragement. Business will come. That, I promise!

Utilize Follower Friday

This is something that just makes Fridays fun. Take one day of the week to give a shout out to your followers. You may have 5 or 500 so just start where you are.

Simply send out a few tweets saying thank you, using #FF and the @ symbol so that your followers see you have mentioned them. Bundlepost also allows you to set this up so as you grow you can continue to showcase your amazing followers.

This will help keep you connected and also keep you in front of your followers. You could also be that bridge that connects your followers to each other as well.

Never Do This

Growing your fan base, on any social media, takes time. Please, oh please, do not get roped into buying followers. There is not much to say about this, other than to say don’t do it! It is much better to connect, build relationships and add like-minded followers than just dummy accounts that will be of no value to you.

Always Do This

Let’s Wrap This Up

I am confident these tips will help you, and you take my advice to read a few of these books, check out the helpful tools and get a solid plan for your business on Twitter. I look forward to connecting with you on Twitter! Connect with me HERE. I wanted to leave you with a few additional resources that will encourage you and give you great ammunition for your Twitter campaign.